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France has promised to invest over $3bn in Uganda’s socio economic development.
“France pledges to invest a substantial sum of 3 billion USD, equivalent to 12 trillion UGX, in Uganda over the next three years,” said France’s Ambassador to Uganda, Xavier Sticker this week.
Xavier was meeting Foreign Affairs Minister Gen Jeje Odongo in Kampala.
“These investments will be strategically allocated across key sectors, including but not limited to agriculture and oil and gas, with the aim of fostering sustainable growth and prosperity in Uganda,” he emphasised.
During the meeting, both parties engaged in fruitful discussions centred on enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation between Uganda and France.
Notably, the discussions underscored the shared commitment of both nations to further strengthen ties across various sectors of mutual interest.
Odongo said France’s significant contribution will undoubtedly contribute to Uganda’s efforts to achieve its development goals and improve the well-being of its citizens.
Over 40 French companies such as Total Energies are operational in Uganda.
The French government has also invested 73.5 million euros in the water treatment plant on Kagera River to ensure that people of Isingiro district, especially refugees at Nakivale camp can access clean drinking water.
The other projects which have benefited from France’s intervention include the water plants at Katosi and Kagera River.
France is also working on a project which will provide direct exposure to French learners in part contribution to Uganda’s education sector.
Under this arrangement the French government will be offering learners more resources in terms of scholarships and more opportunities for Ugandan students to visit French Universities and vice versa to improve their education.
It was revealed that up to 12 French universities will be visiting Uganda in the first week of the month of March in 2024.
“They will interact not only with the education system in Uganda but also the Ugandan universities to see how they can improve the curriculum and ensure that some French students can do part of their curriculum in Uganda, and that some of Ugandan students can do part of their curriculum in France,” said Amb Xavier recently .
Ambassador Xavier and his team pledged his government’s continued cooperation on values especially women’s rights, supporting rights defenders, refugees in the Nakivale and Kyangwali camps where through UNHCR, the embassy has committed 900,000 euros to fund the salaries of 37 secondary school teachers
